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Accreditation

Background

To enable to public to understand the Court's activities, the Care of Children Act 2004 permitted "accredited news media reporters" to attend Family Court hearings.

The Act itself didn't set out an accreditation process or criteria, so representatives of the Ministry of Justice met with the Newspaper Publishers Association to establish these. Together they drew up recommendations for a process that would meet both the media's requirements and those of the Family Court. The recommended process is now in place.

Exclusions

There are some media that might normally be excluded under the accreditation criteria (for example, organisations who publish newsletters or independent documentary film-makers). However, under section 137(1)(i) of the Act, others may request permission from the Judge to attend a particular hearing.

Of course a Judge retains the power to exclude any person from the Court. This includes accredited news media reporters.

In the case of a breach

If an accredited news media reporter breaches the Act or any of the Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry will take the matter up with the reporter's editor. If necessary, the complaint will then follow that organisation's relevant complaints procedures.